Petitioner wants prisoners to vote for all elective posts

February 25, 2017 1:09 pm

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The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission directed that prisoners will only vote for their preferred presidential candidates in the August 8 General Elections/FILE

By CORRESPONDENT, NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 25 – A Kenyan citizen has moved to the High Court seeking to have prisoners vote for their Members of Parliament, Governors, Women Representative, Senator and Member of the County Assembly in the coming General Election.

The petitioner, Shadrack Kinyanjui Wambui, argues that all remandees, prisoners and detained person of Kenyan Nationality are entitled to the enjoyment of all their rights, privileges and benefits provided in the Constitution.

“The IEBC’s decision is a live threat to all the prisoners’ rights and fundamental freedoms. It strikes a sword in the heart of the Constitution as it militates against the objects of devolution,” said the petitioner through his lawyer Danstan Omari.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission directed that prisoners will only vote for their preferred presidential candidates in the August 8 General Elections.

The IEBC began registering voters in prisons from Monday following a court ruling that the prisoners have a right to participate in the electoral process.

The application has been certified urgent and will be heard on next week on Wednesday.